Observations, articles, opinions etc. in Dutch and English. The author, Bert de Bruin (Yonathan Dror Bar-On), is a Dutch-Jewish historian, who has specialized in modern Jewish history and in the history of the Middle East, and who in 1995 emigrated from the Netherlands to Israel. He wrote one book (2008), and edited another (2011), both in Dutch. For feedback please post a comment, or send this blog's author an email: (hisdutchname)atyahoodotcom

Saturday, March 25, 2006

Look at this expression of thanks by the wife of the British hostage who was rescued in Iraq by American and British troops earlier this week. Apparently I am not the only one who thinks it would have been nice if she had specifically mentioned the soldiers who risked their lives to save their husband and two other hostages. Or does she honestly believe that the kidnapping of hostages is mainly to be blamed on the presence of those soldiers to begin with? Just imagine whom the Kember family and other 'peacemakers' would have found fault with if any of the three hostages had been seriously hurt during the operation to liberate them. Thank G'd no Allied serviceman or -woman was hurt in this military action. Maybe the American and British armies have no business being in Iraq, but I wonder if the presence of people such as Mr Kember is more beneficial to ordinary Iraqis than that of the Allied soldiers.
PS: It seems that Norman Kember himself was ( made ) aware of the hiatus. I just saw him arriving at Heathrow airport, and he said: "I do not believe that a lasting peace is achieved by armed force, but I pay tribute to their ( sic ) courage and thank those who played a part in my rescue."